I just watched the new PBS Kids show, “The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That!” The Cat is back with Martin Short’s voice, pals Sally and Nick, and Thing 1 and Thing 2 to explore the world of science through discovery. Dr, Seuss’ Cat in the Hat character has been synonymous with encouraging early literacy, since his books were originally created as early readers with controlled vocabulary. The delightful, engaging tales soon drew a following of kids and adults alike. (I have been to homes with newborns where parent Seuss fans already had a complete library of his books ready for baby to devour.)
Originally, Seuss’ books were introduced to a generation of kids who were falling behind the rest of the word in reading. Now, the new TV series has a similar agenda only to promote scientific exploration, answering questions through the eyes of toddlers. The episode I watched today was about how a hermit crab finds a new shell when he has outgrown his old one. The gang takes off in the Thinga-ma-jigger to explore the ocean, looking for the right shell. The kid-friendly pace and methodical discovery of information on that show’s topic, make an episode a great learning experience.
Go beyond the show and enjoy the PBS Kids website for further exploration with your child. Extending learning on a topic will reinforce what your child has seen on the show. Click on Games, Print, Video or Snap-0-Rama. Lots of suggestions for parents and teachers are provided.
